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B1G Monday Morning: Nebraska is the Big Ten’s worst team — by a mile

Alex Hickey

By Alex Hickey

Published:

Last year, Nebraska earned the faint praise of “best 3-9 team in the country.” Some went so far to call the Cornhuskers the best 3-9 team ever. And it was difficult to counter that point considering Nebraska finished the Big Ten schedule with a point differential of zero despite going 1-8 in the conference.

But all of that glossed over a pretty important detail.

There’s no such thing as a good 3-9 football team. It’s like being named the world’s best baker of frozen pizza. Nebraska was bad.

And now the Cornhuskers are even worse. Bad enough to be the worst 3-9 team in the country — if interim coach Mickey Joseph can somehow get them to 3 wins.

He’s going to have his work cut out for him.

Each week gives us extra pieces to complete the college football jigsaw puzzle. And Week 3 was particularly illuminating in regards to Nebraska. As the Huskers were getting blown out of their own stadium by an Oklahoma team that struggled to score against Kent State, Northwestern was thoroughly outplayed by an 0-2 FCS team.

The Wildcats are bad. And the Cornhuskers are even worse. The worst team in all of the Big Ten, in fact. The standings are likely to bear this out at the end of the season, even in the meek Big Ten West. Because the statistics already do.

Nebraska is at or near the bottom of the B1G in a startling number of categories, most of them defensive. (Hence Sunday’s firing of defensive coordinator Erik Chinander.)

  • Scoring defense: 35.5 ppg
  • Rush defense: 233.5 ypg
  • Pass defense (13th): 280.5 ypg
  • Total defense: 514 ypg
  • Opponent first downs: 27 per game
  • Opponent third-down conversions: 52.4%
  • Opponent fourth-down conversions (13th): 71.4%
  • Opponent red zone TDs: 12
  • Opponent 10+ yard plays: 66
  • Opponent 10+ yard runs: 25
  • Opponent 20+ yard passes: 16
  • Opponent 30+ yard plays: 13
  • Sacks: 4
  • Tackles for loss: 3.5 per game
  • Turnover margin: -2
  • TFL allowed (11th): 5.25 per game
  • Sacks allowed: 2.75 per game
  • Average time of possession (12th): 28:01

Breaking down the bad

  • In the 2 categories where the Huskers rank 13th, Northwestern is ranked 14th. And of course the Wildcats have already beaten the Huskers.
  • The long-play stats won’t be completely accurate until next week, when everyone in the B1G has joined Nebraska in playing 4 games. But 13th-ranked Penn State would have to allow 19 plays of 10 yards or more against Central Michigan this week in order to surpass Nebraska. The only teams to allow more long gains than Nebraska are Hawaii, UConn and Charlotte — 3 of the worst teams in the country, period. All of those teams, including the Huskers, are 1-3.
  • The Cornhuskers are 123rd nationally in third-down defense.
  • On a per-game basis, Nebraska is tied for 110th nationally in sacks and is 108th in sacks allowed.

The final point is the ultimate harbinger of doom for Nebraska. If you can’t compete in the trenches, you can’t compete in the Big Ten.

Iowa and Wisconsin are able to win the West despite questionable quarterback play because they can usually maul opponents up front. Ohio State and Michigan have explosive offenses this year, but both of those teams start with blocking. And of course last year Michigan’s blueprint to a Big Ten title was excellence on the defensive and offensive lines.

Nebraska is quite literally the Big Ten’s weakest team. And when that’s the case, it’s hard to finish anywhere but last.

Around the B1G horn

Couldn’t watch every game? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered.

No. 3 Ohio State 77, Toledo 21

It’s possible someone out there is going to nitpick the Buckeyes defense for allowing 21 points and 307 yards to the Rockets. These people are nerds. But if you encounter one, you can point out the Bucks were without starting safeties Tanner McCalister and Josh Proctor as well as top defensive lineman Mike Hall Jr.

Also, Ohio State gained 763 yards(!) with only 19 coming from TreVeyon Henderson and 33 from Jaxon Smith-Njigba. This team is loaded.

No. 4 Michigan 59, UConn 0

A total of 8 quarterbacks took a snap for Michigan in this game.

That is not a one-liner. Literally 8 Wolverines quarterbacks played, with 7 of them combining to go 21 of 26 for 273 yards and a touchdown.

Perhaps that was a good thing, because now-backup Cade McNamara managed to get injured in the process and is expected to be out for a few weeks. Talk about a lousy week for McNamara — adding injury to insult.

Washington 39, No. 11 Michigan State 28

Technically, Mel Tucker is right. Michigan State allowed 503 yards to the Huskies, which equates to death by 18,108 inches.

No. 22 Penn State 41, Auburn 12

Last offseason, Auburn had the same debate as Nebraska — should we fire our coach?

Much like the Cornhuskers, the Tigers made the wrong choice and kept Bryan Harsin around. Enjoyable as it was to watch the Nittany Lions beat the snot out of an SEC team on its home field, this game told me more about Auburn than Penn State.

Penn State’s offensive line is a known work in progress, but Auburn couldn’t sack Sean Clifford and finished with 3 TFL. The Nittany Lions mauled Auburn’s O-line for 6 sacks and 11 TFL.

The Tigers are a wimpy, wimpy team in the trenches.

No. 6 Oklahoma 49, Nebraska 14

I’ve already provided graphic illustration of how bad Nebraska’s run defense is, but perhaps you’re craving more. And the Huskers are the gift that keeps on giving.

Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel looked like Tommie Frazier when he ducked through Nebraska’s defense for a 61-yard run to tie the game at 7.

The third-and-7 play was a game-changing moment. Get Oklahoma off the field there, and you have a chance to go up 2 scores and get the home crowd in a frenzy. But these things happen. Gabriel must be a pretty good running quarterback, right?

After that 61-yard gain, Gabriel has 65 rushing yards this season. So although he’s decently mobile — Gabriel has 372 career rushing yards in 3 previous seasons — Nebraska’s defense raised him up a notch.

Syracuse 32, Purdue 29

Want to see how you blow a lead in 44 seconds? Commit 85 yards worth of penalties, 60 of which come after the whistle.

Purdue is a 1-2 team that should be 3-0, and that’s on Jeff Brohm. The Boilermakers lack poise and have no clutch gene whatsoever. And it’s a dang shame. Because if this team was ranked, the Charlie Jones Heisman hype train might pick up some steam.

Jones is second nationally with 158 receiving yards per game and leads the way with 32 receptions. He’s also tied for second with 5 touchdowns. He’ll certainly be a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, and it can be argued that no player in the country has been better this September. Purdue can’t let it go to waste.

Indiana 33, Western Kentucky 30 (OT)

Indiana’s game-winning overtime drive was a thing of comedy turned beauty. The Hoosiers went 3 plays for minus-8 yards, forcing Charles Campbell to attempt a 51-yard field goal — which he drilled.

That sucker probably had another 5 yards on it. Take that, #CollegeKickers!

Southern Illinois 31, Northwestern 24

If Nebraska fans thought they were clear of embarrassing wisecracks, I have bad news.

Remember how the Huskers didn’t record a sack against Northwestern? Southern Illinois got Wildcats quarterback Ryan Hilinski 3 times.

The 0-2 Salukis, who allowed 64 points and 10.2 yards per play to Incarnate Word in their season opener, held Northwestern to 4.4 yards per play.

This is already cemented as the most embarrassing loss for any Big Ten team this season.

Rutgers 16, Temple 14

The Scarlet Knights won a game with 201 total yards and no offensive touchdowns. To improve to 3-0. Greg Schiano is some kind of wizard. Though to be fair, Temple makes a lot of people look like they went to Hogwart’s.

Minnesota 49, Colorado 7

Colorado is a horrendous football team. The Buffaloes have lost all 3 of their games by at least 25 points, and haven’t even played a conference game yet. So this game is about as easy to interpret as Michigan’s win over UConn.

That said, Mohamed Ibrahim is a beast even if they Buffs are not. Ibrahim ran for 202 yards, setting a Minnesota career record with 4 games over 200.

Despite the 42-point win, this game may end up hurting the Gophers in the long run more than it helps them. Leading receiver Chris Autman-Bell left with an evident right knee injury, and he is a necessary weapon for this offense.

Wisconsin 66, New Mexico State 7

This was Wisconsin’s largest margin of victory since beating Indiana by 63 in 2010, and the highest scoring output since hanging 68 on Bowling Green in 2014. The Badgers threw for 335 passing yards, which is their most passing yards since a 2019 game against Central Michigan.

New Mexico State is terrible, but all of these are needed confidence boosts as Wisconsin prepares to visit Ohio State this weekend.

Maryland 34, SMU 27

If the world has yet to meet Roman Hemby, now would be a pretty good time to get yourself acquainted.

On a team loaded with offensive weapons — receivers Dontay Demus Jr., Rakim Jarrett and Jacob Coleman are all future NFL players — Hemby is low-key turning into the most dangerous Terp.

Hemby had 213 yards — 151 rushing, 62 receiving — to help Maryland fend off the upset-minded Mustangs.

We’ll see just how powerful Hemby’s star power is growing when the Terrapins visit Michigan next week.

Iowa 27, Nevada 0

America scoffed when Iowa opened this game as a 23.5-point favorite, and Brian Ferentz shoved it right back in their faces. Though in this case, their sleeping faces, because this game didn’t end until 1:39 a.m. locally due to 4 hours worth of lightning delays.

But really, good things actually did happen for the Iowa offense — namely in the form of freshman running back Kaleb Johnson.

If Iowa can at least get its run game going, the Hawkeyes have enough talent on defense and special teams to compete for another West title. That’s a big if. But at least we saw signs of life.

Week 2 MVPs

1. RB Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota)

The records continue to fall for Ibrahim. His 202-yard performance marked his 12th consecutive game of at least 100 rushing yards. Minnesota’s old record in that category was 8 straight games.

Ibrahim had 3 touchdowns, the last of which tied Darrell Thompson’s career school record. Thompson set the mark in 1989.

And the record-tying score? It was no cheapie.

2. CB Ji’Ayir Brown (Penn State)

Brown was the face of Penn State’s dominating defensive performance, forcing a fumble on a cornerback blitz before later putting the game to bed with an interception.

3. QB CJ Stroud (Ohio State)

Stroud is perhaps the only quarterback in the country who can go 22-of-27 for 367 yards and 5 touchdowns and make people say “Oh, was that all?” It’s silly how easy he makes the game look when he’s dialed in.

4. RB Roman Hemby (Maryland)

The freshman is 5th in the Big Ten in yards from scrimmage behind Northwestern’s Evan Hull, Illinois’ Chase Brown, Ibrahim and Charlie Jones. This is very good company if you can keep it.

 

5. K Charles Campbell (Indiana)

Campbell was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals, including his walk-off 51-yarder. It goes without saying that Indiana doesn’t win this game without him.

Honorable mention

Who else but Choo-Choo Charlie Jones, who had 11 receptions for 188 yards and a touchdown. And he couldn’t have done it without Aidan O’Connell, who was 39-of-55 for 424 yards and 3 touchdowns — but had an unfortunate pick-6 thrown into the mix. … Ohio State third-string running back Dallan Hayden, who managed 108 yards on 17 carries. … Michigan running back Blake Corum, who tied a school single-game record with 5 rushing touchdowns. … Michigan State receiver Keon Coleman, who emerged for 116 yards and 2 TDs on 9 catches. … Penn State running back Nick Singleton, who had 10 carries for 124 yards and 2 TDs. … Wisconsin receiver Skyler Bell, who had 4 catches for 108 yards and 2 TDs. … Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson for the best performance by a Hawkeye freshman since 2010.

Play of the week

It was a pretty good weekend to bet on the Tagovailoa brothers in the fourth quarter.

Tua led the Miami Dolphins to a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback in Baltimore on Sunday. And Saturday night, Taulia worked some magic of his own across the state in College Park. This is a marvelous piece of improvisation that provided the winning touchdown for Maryland.

Alex Hickey

Alex Hickey is an award-winning writer who has watched Big Ten sports since it was a numerically accurate description of league membership. Alex has covered college football and basketball since 2008, with stops on the McNeese State, LSU and West Virginia beats before being hired as Saturday Tradition's Big Ten columnist in 2021. He is an Illinois native and 2004 Indiana University graduate.